So, I usually write a blog about the famous deaths from the year gone by. I missed 2018, far too busy. Actually, I'm not busy at all, just really lazy. I apologize to those folks that died in 2018, but Im back now and ready to share some famous deaths from 2019. I hope you, and them, can forgive me.
Without further ado, the deaths of the last year.
Bob Einstein
B. Nov. 20, 1942 Los Angeles, Cal.
D. Jan 2, 2019 (aged 76) Indian Wells, Cal.
Cause: Cancer
I only ever knew this man as Super Dave Osborne. I used to watch the John Byner-led show "Bizarre", which ran from 1980 to 1985. And I mostly watched it to see how Super Dave could hurt himself. Little did I know "Dave Osborne" wasn't his real name! I had to find that out years later when he would appear as a guest on shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Arrested Development". He also appeared in a handful of movies, most notably Modern Romance in 1981 and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007. But he will always remain Super Dave to me!
Gene Okerlund
B. Dec. 19, 1942 Brookings, S.D.
D. Jan. 2, 2019 (aged 76) Sarasota, Fla.
Cause: Injury (fall while in deteriorating health)
If you washed wrestling in the 1980's, as I almost fanatically did, then you know who "Mean" Gene Okerlund was. Always the professional while interviewing the greatest wrestling stars of the time, to watch any WWF (or WWE) show without Okerlund's interviews was sacrilegious! Just the mention of his name brings back found memories.
Carol Channing
B. Jan. 31, 1921 Seattle, Wash.
D. Jan. 15, 2019 (aged 97) Rancho Mirage, Cal.
Cause: Natural Causes
With her distinct voice and perfect timing, I knew Carol Channing from variety and talk shows in the 1970's and 1980's. But I never knew what made her so famous. Turns out she was a big deal on the Broadway stage, starring in such productions as "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "Pygmalion" and the play that made her career, "Hello, Dolly" which won her a Tony Award in 1964. In 1995 she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for her 50 years on the stage.
James Ingram
B. Feb. 16, 1952 Akron, Ohio
D. Jan. 29, 2019 (aged 66) Los Angeles , Cal.
Cause: Brain Cancer
He began his singing career in 1973, but it was the 1980's that made James Ingram a familiar name. His song "Baby, Come To Me", accompanied by Patti Austin, went to the top of the charts in 1982. He had other popular singles in the '80's with "Just Once" and "Ya Mo Be There" with Michael McDonald, which won him his second of two Grammy Awards. (and is one of my favourite songs to sing loudly!).
Albert Finney
B. May 9, 1936 Salford, England
D. Feb. 7, 2019 (aged 82) London, England
Cause: Chest Infection
In a career that spanned almost 60 years, Albert Finney was looked upon as one of the best actors of his time. His breakout role was as the lead in the 1963 film "Tom Jones", a role which garnered his first of five Academy Award nominations. In his native England he was nominated for 13 BAFTA awards, winning two. He was also a winner of 3 Golden Globe Awards. One of the best on stage and screen.
Frank Robinson
B. Aug. 31, 1935 Beaumont, Tex.
D. Feb. 7, 2019 (aged 83) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Bone Cancer
Maybe not a household name for those not familiar with baseball players and managers, but to me, this was a huge loss. Robinson is the only ball player to win an MVP award in both the American and National League. When he retired as a player, he ranked fourth for the most home runs hit in a career with 586. He also became the first black manager in Major League Baseball when he became player/manager for the Cleveland Indians in 1975. A 14 time All-Star, World Series MVP, Rookie Of The Year and Triple Crown winner in 1966, there were few better than Robinson.
Bruno Ganz
B. Mar. 22, 1941 Zurich, Switzerland
D. Feb. 16, 2019 (aged 77) Wadenswil, Switzerland
Cause: Intestinal Cancer
Maybe a name you're not familiar with, but I had to include him solely on the merit of his performance in one of the most heart-achingly beautiful German film Wings Of Desire. He starred in more than 80 movies and TV shows/films in his career, mostly in the Foreign market. He was honoured with many awards in Europe, even getting a star on Berlin's "Boulevard Of The Stars". He also played Adolf Hitler in the 2004 film Downfall, for which he earned almost unanimous acclaim from critics.
Don Newcombe
B. June 14, 1926 Madison, N.J.
D. Feb. 19, 2019 (aged 92) Los Angeles, Cal.
Here's another ball player that most people don't know the name of. Newcombe broke into the Major Leagues not long after Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in the game. He earned the Rookie Of The Year Award in 1949, won the Cy Young and NL MVP Awards in 1956, and helped the Brooklyn Dodgers to a World Series win in 1955. For some odd reason, Newcombe was not selected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame, but he certainly deserves to be there!
Stanley Donen
B. April 13, 1924 Columbia, S.C.
D. Feb. 21, 2019 (aged 94) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Heart Failure
You may not recognize the name, but I'm sure you know the movies he helmed. Donen was the man behind Singin' In The Rain, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Funny Face just to name a few. He would go on to direct a total of 28 feature films in his career that spanned from 1949 to 1999. Some critics dubbed him "the King of the Hollywood Musical".
Peter Tork
B. Feb. 13, 1942 Washington, D.C.
D. Feb. 21, 2019 (aged 77) Mansfield, Conn.
Cause: Cancer
He was probably the best musician in the group The Monkees who largely didn't know how to play anything when they got together way back in 1966. He was also the oldest member of the band. When the Monkees' fad finally died out, Tork would go on to make his own music, releasing solo albums as well as being a member of the Shoe Suede Blues band.
Katherine Helmond
B. July 5, 1929 Galveston, Tex.
D. Feb. 23, 2019 (aged 89) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Complications from Alzheimer's disease
We may always remember her from her time on the sitcom "Who's The Boss" or her brilliance in the show "Soap", but that was just a smidgen of work from this multi-talented lady. She was a Tony Award nominee in 1973, a two-time Golden Globe winner, and a seven-time Emmy nominee. She worked pretty steadily on stage or on TV for an incredible 60 years! So much more than "Mona".
Luke Perry
B. Oct. 11, 1966 Mansfield, Ohio
D. March 4, 2019 (aged 52) Burbank, Cal.
Cause: Complications from 2 strokes
This one was a shocker! Luke Perry became so familiar to kids that grew up in the '90's because of his role as Dylan McKay on "Beverly Hills, 90210". He almost felt like a relative, a distant cousin or an uncle twice removed, or whatever. He was obviously more than just that role, appearing in over 30 feature films and countless TV shows, both in front of the screen and as a voice actor. But he'll always remain Dylan in this kid's mind.
Georgia Engel
B. July 28, 1948 Washington, D.C.
D. April 12, 2019 (aged 70) Princeton, N.J.
Cause: Unknown
The name wasn't familiar, but the face and voice certainly were. As a young boy watching "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", Engel seemed so ditzy, always being misunderstood or given a brainless one-liner. In anyone else's hands, this would have been unbearable. But Engel, playing Georgette, made it look like true ignorance and, in doing so, became a heartfelt favourite of the show. She appeared on all those big shows of the '70's and '80's; "Rhoda", "The Betty White Show", "The Love Boat" (four times), "Fantasy Island" (five times), and on and on. Later in life she was a big part of the show "Everybody Loves Raymond". She was one of my faves!
John Singleton
B. Jan. 6, 1968 Los Angeles, Cal.
D. April 28, 2019 (aged 51) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Complications from a Stroke
As it was with Luke Perry month and a half ago, I was shocked to hear of John Singleton's death. From his introduction as a director with the powerful Boyz N The Hood, it was clear this was a filmmaker that had a voice and was speaking to his audience loudly and without apologizing. It was a big loss to the world of cinema.
Jim Fowler
B. April 9, 1930 Albany, Ga
D. May 8, 2019 (aged 89) Norwalk, Con.
Cause: Heart Disease
I'm not sure how many of you reading this know who Jim Fowler is, but for those around my age, 47, then you probably watched "Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom". Fowler was the man that taught us all about wild animals. Not only through that show, but if you were lucky enough to catch him late at night on "The Tonight Show", then you would never forget him. He made 40 appearances on that late show with Johnny Carson, and each time was hilarious and fun.
Peggy Lipton
B. Aug. 30, 1946 New York, N.Y.
D. May 11, 2019 (aged 72) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Colon Cancer
She was the beautiful Julie Barnes on the crime show "The Mod Squad" for 6 years. But before that she was a model at the age of 15. She successfully turned modelling into a career in television, first seen on the popular show "Bewitched" in 1965. In the early '90's she was picked by David Lynch to have a recurring role on his show "Twin Peaks". Lipton was married to record producer Quincy Jones for 16 years, and was the mother of actress Rashida Jones.
Doris Day
B. April 3, 1922 Cincinnati, Ohio
D. May 13, 2019 (aged 97) Carmel, Cal.
Cause: Pneumonia
In the 1950's and 1960's, there were few more popular than Doris Day. Beauty, a great singer, a pretty good actress...she was a triple threat for years and years. In those two decades alone, Doris Day released nearly 30 albums and starred in 36 films. She was only nominated for one Oscar, for her role in Pillow Talk, but the list of other awards is numerous; 11 Golden Globe noms (won 4 and was given a Lifetime Achievement award), 10 Laurel Awards (an American best-in-cinema award), was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammys as well as being inducted in the Grammy Hall Of Fame 3 times.
Tim Conway
B. Dec. 15, 1933 Willoughby, Ohio
D. May 14, 2019 (aged 85) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Looking back, I count myself lucky to have seen the TV shows I did. It was such a thrill to tune into "The Carol Burnett Show" every week. Mostly, I waited to see what Tim Conway would be up to, and could he make the other actors laugh on stage. He was absolutely brilliant as a comedic actor. Just Google "Tim Conway dentist" and you'll become a fan, too. I always wanted to be Tim Conway. He appeared in scores of TV shows from 1962 and on and couple dozens films, including some voice work. A winner of 3 Primetime Emmy Awards, nominated for many more, he is a man that will not too soon be forgotten.
I.M. Pei
B. April 26, 1917 Republic Of China
D. May 16, 2019 (aged 102) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Natural Causes
Among those who like architecture, I.M. Pei was the "bees' knees". His career spanned over 60 years, creating some of the most recognizable structures of our time. The list is seemingly endless, stretching across the globe. The John F. Kennedy Library, the Louvre's pyramids, Hancock Tower in Boston, even some work in my native Toronto with CIBC Commerce Court. His creations will live on for a very long time.
Dr. John
B. Nov. 20, 1941 New Orleans, La.
D. June 6, 2019 (aged 77) New Orleans, La.
Cause: Heart Attack
He was born Malcolm John Rebennack Jr., but the music world knew him as Dr. John, a virtuoso on the piano and his blues/jazz/funk music that spanned over 60 years. "I was in the right place, but it musta been the wrong time", known worldwide for that song. He released scores of albums in his time, and was a regular player on the "Late Show With David Letterman", appearing at least 10 times from 1982 to 2008. A winner of 6 Grammy Awards and inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011.
Franco Zeffirelli
B. Feb. 12, 1923 Florence, Italy
D. June 15, 2019 (aged 96) Rome, Italy
Cause: Natural Causes
He had a very long career as a film director, both in his native Italy and in America. What Zeffirelli was most known for was his interpretations of Shakespeare's most famous plays. The Taming Of The Shrew in 1967, Romeo And Juliet in 1968 (for which he earned an Academy Award nomination), Otello in 1986 (based on the opera that was based on "Othello"), and Hamlet in 1990 (starring a surprising apt Mel Gibson). He was also once nominated for a Razzie Award for helming Endless Love with a teenaged Brooke Shields.
Gloria Vanderbilt
B. Feb. 20, 1924 New York, N.Y.
D. June 17, 2019 (aged 95) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Stomach Cancer
She was an author, an artist, a fashion designer and a socialite, and she was Anderson Cooper's mother (which I did not know until the announcement of her death). Perfume and household appliances, then, in the '70's, blue jeans. She was a millionaire before she was born, and at 13, worth more than $4-million (equivalent to $70-million in today's money). There are five biographies available on her life, starting in 1979, and the subject of a book by Cooper published in 2016.
Lee Iacocca
B. Oct. 15, 1924 Allentown, Pa.
D. July 2, 2019 (aged 94) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Parkinson's Disease
He ran two of the biggest car manufacturing companies in the world, Ford in the '60's and Chysler in the '80's. Iacocca presided over the making of the Ford Mustang, but he also headed the group that made the Pinto. He was married three times, and had a net worth of of over $150-million at the time of his death.
Arte Johnson
B. Jan. 20, 1929 Benton Harbor, Mich.
D. July 3, 2019 (aged 90) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Prostate Cancer
Once again, if you were a kid of the '70's, you heard Johnson's very famous line; "Verrrrry interesting". His character of "Wolfgang" on "Laugh-In" is where the familiar phrase was born. He played off of that for a good long time, but Johnson took his comic timing to other TV shows, especially game shows like "Hollywood Squares" or "Match Game" or "Tattletales".
Ross Perot
B. June 27, 1930 Texarkana, Tex.
D. July 9, 2019 (aged 89) Dallas, Tex.
Cause: Leukemia
The little elf that could. I had never heard of Ross Perot until his unsuccessful run at the Presidency of the United States...twice! He was a multi-billionaire, running as an Independent, twice, and failed to win, twice. When his company went public in 1968, the shares went from $16 per share to $160 per share, making Perot a billionaire in just a few days. He actually got an astounding 19.7-million votes in 1992 when he lost to Bill Clinton, so he wasn't just a flash-in-the-pan. And watching the press conferences he gave were always a joy to behold!
Rip Torn
B. Feb. 6, 1931 Temple, Tex.
D. July 9, 2019 (aged 88) Lakeville, Conn.
Cause: Unknown
He was born Elmore Rual Torn, Jr., but we all knew him as "Rip". He had a career that spanned over 60 years, but his success later in life is why most of know who he is. His work on "The Larry Sanders Show" was absolutely brilliant. From his success on that show, he was able to get hired for many big dollar movies; Men In Black, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and guest appearances on "Will And Grace" and "30 Rock". He was a student at the famous Actor's Studio in the late 1950's, working alongside Dennis Hopper. In fact, Torn was offered the role George in Easy Rider, but a bitter fight one evening between him and Hopper made the latter fire him before filming and was replaced by Jack Nicholson.
Rutger Hauer
B. Jan. 23, 1944 Breukelen, Netherlands
D. July 19, 2019 (aged 75) Beetsterzwaag, Netherlands
Cause: Unspecified Illness
Who could forget Hauer in arguably his most sought role in Blade Runner?? He was fabulous. But he was much more than just Roy Batty. In fact, Hauer started his career way back in 1969 and, 50 years later, was still making movies. In his over one hundred appearances in TV and film, it was always difficult to watch anybody else when the camera was pointed in his direction.
Toni Morrison
B. Feb. 18, 1931 Lorain, Ohio
D. Aug. 5, 2019 (aged 88) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Pneumonia
A author of eleven novels, two plays and a few children's books, Morrison was a very celebrated woman. She won a National Book Critics Circle Award for her third novel "Song Of Solomon" in 1977. Then, eleven years later, she won the Pulitzer Prize For Fiction with her novel "Beloved". And of the many awards bestowed on her, the greatest recognition she received was the Presidential Medal Of Freedom in 2012. She even won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album For Children in 2008. You should Google the awards she won, it's a stupidly long list!
Peter Fonda
B. Feb. 23, 1940 New York, N.Y.
D. Aug. 16, 2019 (aged 79) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Lung Cancer
Being part of one of the most recognized family in the movie business, it may have been difficult to stand out. Well, Peter Fonda took care of that by co-writing and producing one of the most important films ever. Easy Rider helped to change the way movies were made, away from the big studios with as little money as possible. His more than 50 year career in entertainment earned him an Academy Award nomination in acting for 1997's Ulee's Gold, and an Emmy nomination for the TV special "The Passion Of Ayn Rand". He more than proved himself capable of carrying the "Fonda" name.
Valerie Harper
B. Aug. 22, 1939 Suffern, N.Y.
D. Aug. 30, 2019 (aged 80) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Cancer
She appeared in movies as far back as the late 1950's, but her career took off in 1970 when she was cast as Mary Tyler Moore's neighbour, Rhoda Morgenstern. She played that role for four years when the TV execs decided to give her her own show. Between 1974 and 1977, Harper acted on these two shows, and everyone loved her comedic ways. She was nominated for a bunch of Primetime Emmy Awards, winning a couple along the way. In 1986, she starred in another show, "Valerie", which did not get audiences' attention and was cancelled after just two seasons. Some other guest appearances and small movie roles followed, but she will always be "Rhoda".
Eddie Money
B. March 21, 1949 Brooklyn, N.Y.
D. Sept. 13, 2019 (aged 70) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Esophageal Cancer
In the late '70's and early '80's, Eddie Money had many songs on the Top 40 lists. His songs "Take Me Home Tonight", "Baby Hold On" and, of course, "Two Tickets To Paradise" were on regular rotation on rock radio. He released 12 albums in total, including one in 2019. But his fame came, and stayed, because of those first few albums he released in the late '70's.
Ric Ocasek
B. March 23, 1944 Baltimore, Maryland
D. Sept. 15, 2019 (aged 75) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Natural Causes
First Eddie Money, then a couple of days later another big rock singer dies. Ocasek was the lead singer of the group The Cars, a band that had many songs on the charts. The band's first album was a huge success, selling over six million copies. Ocasek was mostly responsible for their success, writing most of the songs and singing on most as well. The Cars released seven studio albums between 1978 and 2011 and their Greatest Hits album, released in 1985, sold several million as well. The Cars were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame just one year before Ocasek's death.
Sid Haig
B. July 14, 1939 Fresno, Cal.
D. Sept. 21, 2019 (aged 80) Thousand Oaks, Cal.
Cause: Complications From COPD and Pneumonia
If you're not familiar with the movie House Of 1000 Corpses, you may not know who Sid Haig is, but he's been acting since the early 1960's. He made a pretty good career for himself as a bit player in dozens of movies and TV shows. His biggest acting job was appearing in 55 episodes of the show "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" in the late 1970's. But his star really shone when Rob Zombie hired him to play Captain Spaulding in four of his movies. The last Zombie movie, 3 From Hell, was released in 2019, just before Haig's death.
Diahann Carroll
B. July 17, 1935 Bronx, N.Y.
D. Oct. 4, 2019 (aged 84) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Cancer
Actress, singer, model and the first black actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress for the play "No Strings". In 1968, she starred in the TV show "Julia" and was the first black TV character to lead a network series. She became a regular visitor to many talk shows of the 1970's, and then was cast as Dominique Deveraux and the hit TV series "Dynasty" in 1984. She married four times and spent a long time as Sidney Poitier's partner. A truly multi-talented woman who's beauty will not be forgotten.
Ginger Baker
B. Aug. 19, 1939 Lewisham, England
D. Oct. 6, 2019 (aged 80) Kent, England
Cause: Complications from COPD
Peter Edward Baker, nicknamed "Ginger" because of his red hair, was one of my favourite drummers in Rock. And, if you asked him, he was the greatest drummer in Rock, too. He started playing the drums at age 15, and, in 1966, co-founded the band Cream with Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton. The name of their band was to let all know that they were the "cream of the crop". Cream only lasted a couple of years, but their legacy as one of the best Rock groups ever still remains. In 2012, a documentary was made about Baker titled Beware Of Mr. Baker which chronicled his failing health and strange ways. Highly recommended film.
Rip Taylor
B. Jan. 13, 1931 Washington, D.C.
D. Oct. 6, 2019 (aged 88) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Complications From Epileptic Seizure
He may be the first person to be famous for being famous. He was a comedian in the early 1960's, but by the 1970's, he was just a funny man with wigs, a big moustache and pocketfuls of confetti. His antics were welcomed on such shows as "Hollywood Squares", "To Tell The Truth", "The Gong Show" and "Match Game". He appeared on multitudes of talk shows of the time, including "The Merv Griffin Show" and "The Tonight Show".
Robert Forster
B. July 13, 1941 Rochester, N.Y.
D. Oct. 11, 2019 (aged 78) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Brain Cancer
Although I probably saw him on a TV show or as a bit player in some old movie, I fell in love with Robert Forster after watching Jackie Brown. He was the epitome of cool, and earned himself an Academy Award nomination for the role. His career really exploded after that role, both in TV and film. The last movie he made was the "Breaking Bad" followup El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which was released on the same day of his death.
Robert Evans
B. June 29, 1930 New York, N.Y.
D. Oct. 26, 2019 (aged 89) Beverly Hills, Cal.
Cause: Unknown
He was the man who brought the world The Godfather, Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown. The producer extraordinaire, Evans helped to save Paramount Pictures when they were suffering through the 1960's. He backed a bunch of well-received films that audiences loved, thereby making huge loads of money. His autobiography "The Kid Stays In The Picture" was released in 1994 and turned into a documentary film in 2002, which I highly recommend.
John Mann
B. Sept. 18, 1962 Calgary, Canada
D. Nov. 20, 2019 (aged 57) Vancouver, Canada
Cause: Alzheimer's Disease
I point out the sad news of John's death because I am Canadian, and, here in the Great White North, he was a bit of an icon. He fronted the band Spirit Of The West, known mostly for their fabulously fun song "Home For A Rest". Mann appeared in a documentary about dealing with his disease, with family, with bandmates, and with the Canadian fans that loved his music. It was called Spirit Unforgettable and you need to find it and watch it!
Michael J. Pollard
B. May 30, 1939 Passaic, N.J.
D. Nov. 20, 2019 (aged 80) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Cardiac Arrest
You may not know the name, but the face should ring some bells. Pollard was in loads of movies, usually as a bit part Bonnie And Clyde in 1967 or Scrooged in 1988 or maybe House Of 1000 Corpses in 2003. He had to have been in 100 movies and TV shows. And get this: he suggested the title of the Traffic song "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" which just happens to be one of my favourite songs! Neat.
Rene Auberjonois
B. June 1, 1940 New York, N.Y.
D. Dec. 8, 2019 (aged 79) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Lung Cancer
Here's another actor whose name you may not know, but I'm sure you've seen him somewhere. An accomplished stage actor (nominated for 3 Tony Awards), he moved to movies and TV, appearing in a few Robert Altman films along the way. But most will remember him for playing Odo on TV's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". Auberjonois also leant his voice to dozens of animated shows and video games. Later in life he leant his voice to many Audio Books, as well.
Danny Aiello
B. June 20, 1933 Manhattan, N.Y.
D. Dec. 12, 2019 (aged 86) New Jersey
Cause: Natural Causes
I always like Danny Aiello, even though many of his roles were pretty much the same. He started acting in films in 1973. Bang The Drum Slowly opposite Robert DeNiro, a bit part in The Godfather Part II, and with DeNiro again 10 years later in Once Upon A Time In America. He got much acclaim in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing in 1989 receiving critic awards and nominated for an Academy Award. Oh, nd remember him in the Madonna video "Papa Don't Preach"? He was everywhere, and will be missed.
B. Jan. 31, 1921 Seattle, Wash.
D. Jan. 15, 2019 (aged 97) Rancho Mirage, Cal.
Cause: Natural Causes
With her distinct voice and perfect timing, I knew Carol Channing from variety and talk shows in the 1970's and 1980's. But I never knew what made her so famous. Turns out she was a big deal on the Broadway stage, starring in such productions as "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "Pygmalion" and the play that made her career, "Hello, Dolly" which won her a Tony Award in 1964. In 1995 she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for her 50 years on the stage.
B. Feb. 16, 1952 Akron, Ohio
D. Jan. 29, 2019 (aged 66) Los Angeles , Cal.
Cause: Brain Cancer
He began his singing career in 1973, but it was the 1980's that made James Ingram a familiar name. His song "Baby, Come To Me", accompanied by Patti Austin, went to the top of the charts in 1982. He had other popular singles in the '80's with "Just Once" and "Ya Mo Be There" with Michael McDonald, which won him his second of two Grammy Awards. (and is one of my favourite songs to sing loudly!).
B. May 9, 1936 Salford, England
D. Feb. 7, 2019 (aged 82) London, England
Cause: Chest Infection
In a career that spanned almost 60 years, Albert Finney was looked upon as one of the best actors of his time. His breakout role was as the lead in the 1963 film "Tom Jones", a role which garnered his first of five Academy Award nominations. In his native England he was nominated for 13 BAFTA awards, winning two. He was also a winner of 3 Golden Globe Awards. One of the best on stage and screen.
B. Aug. 31, 1935 Beaumont, Tex.
D. Feb. 7, 2019 (aged 83) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Bone Cancer
Maybe not a household name for those not familiar with baseball players and managers, but to me, this was a huge loss. Robinson is the only ball player to win an MVP award in both the American and National League. When he retired as a player, he ranked fourth for the most home runs hit in a career with 586. He also became the first black manager in Major League Baseball when he became player/manager for the Cleveland Indians in 1975. A 14 time All-Star, World Series MVP, Rookie Of The Year and Triple Crown winner in 1966, there were few better than Robinson.
B. Mar. 22, 1941 Zurich, Switzerland
D. Feb. 16, 2019 (aged 77) Wadenswil, Switzerland
Cause: Intestinal Cancer
Maybe a name you're not familiar with, but I had to include him solely on the merit of his performance in one of the most heart-achingly beautiful German film Wings Of Desire. He starred in more than 80 movies and TV shows/films in his career, mostly in the Foreign market. He was honoured with many awards in Europe, even getting a star on Berlin's "Boulevard Of The Stars". He also played Adolf Hitler in the 2004 film Downfall, for which he earned almost unanimous acclaim from critics.
B. June 14, 1926 Madison, N.J.
D. Feb. 19, 2019 (aged 92) Los Angeles, Cal.
Here's another ball player that most people don't know the name of. Newcombe broke into the Major Leagues not long after Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in the game. He earned the Rookie Of The Year Award in 1949, won the Cy Young and NL MVP Awards in 1956, and helped the Brooklyn Dodgers to a World Series win in 1955. For some odd reason, Newcombe was not selected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame, but he certainly deserves to be there!
B. April 13, 1924 Columbia, S.C.
D. Feb. 21, 2019 (aged 94) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Heart Failure
You may not recognize the name, but I'm sure you know the movies he helmed. Donen was the man behind Singin' In The Rain, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Funny Face just to name a few. He would go on to direct a total of 28 feature films in his career that spanned from 1949 to 1999. Some critics dubbed him "the King of the Hollywood Musical".
B. Feb. 13, 1942 Washington, D.C.
D. Feb. 21, 2019 (aged 77) Mansfield, Conn.
Cause: Cancer
He was probably the best musician in the group The Monkees who largely didn't know how to play anything when they got together way back in 1966. He was also the oldest member of the band. When the Monkees' fad finally died out, Tork would go on to make his own music, releasing solo albums as well as being a member of the Shoe Suede Blues band.
B. July 5, 1929 Galveston, Tex.
D. Feb. 23, 2019 (aged 89) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Complications from Alzheimer's disease
We may always remember her from her time on the sitcom "Who's The Boss" or her brilliance in the show "Soap", but that was just a smidgen of work from this multi-talented lady. She was a Tony Award nominee in 1973, a two-time Golden Globe winner, and a seven-time Emmy nominee. She worked pretty steadily on stage or on TV for an incredible 60 years! So much more than "Mona".
B. Oct. 11, 1966 Mansfield, Ohio
D. March 4, 2019 (aged 52) Burbank, Cal.
Cause: Complications from 2 strokes
This one was a shocker! Luke Perry became so familiar to kids that grew up in the '90's because of his role as Dylan McKay on "Beverly Hills, 90210". He almost felt like a relative, a distant cousin or an uncle twice removed, or whatever. He was obviously more than just that role, appearing in over 30 feature films and countless TV shows, both in front of the screen and as a voice actor. But he'll always remain Dylan in this kid's mind.
B. July 28, 1948 Washington, D.C.
D. April 12, 2019 (aged 70) Princeton, N.J.
Cause: Unknown
The name wasn't familiar, but the face and voice certainly were. As a young boy watching "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", Engel seemed so ditzy, always being misunderstood or given a brainless one-liner. In anyone else's hands, this would have been unbearable. But Engel, playing Georgette, made it look like true ignorance and, in doing so, became a heartfelt favourite of the show. She appeared on all those big shows of the '70's and '80's; "Rhoda", "The Betty White Show", "The Love Boat" (four times), "Fantasy Island" (five times), and on and on. Later in life she was a big part of the show "Everybody Loves Raymond". She was one of my faves!
B. Jan. 6, 1968 Los Angeles, Cal.
D. April 28, 2019 (aged 51) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Complications from a Stroke
As it was with Luke Perry month and a half ago, I was shocked to hear of John Singleton's death. From his introduction as a director with the powerful Boyz N The Hood, it was clear this was a filmmaker that had a voice and was speaking to his audience loudly and without apologizing. It was a big loss to the world of cinema.
B. April 9, 1930 Albany, Ga
D. May 8, 2019 (aged 89) Norwalk, Con.
Cause: Heart Disease
I'm not sure how many of you reading this know who Jim Fowler is, but for those around my age, 47, then you probably watched "Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom". Fowler was the man that taught us all about wild animals. Not only through that show, but if you were lucky enough to catch him late at night on "The Tonight Show", then you would never forget him. He made 40 appearances on that late show with Johnny Carson, and each time was hilarious and fun.
B. Aug. 30, 1946 New York, N.Y.
D. May 11, 2019 (aged 72) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Colon Cancer
She was the beautiful Julie Barnes on the crime show "The Mod Squad" for 6 years. But before that she was a model at the age of 15. She successfully turned modelling into a career in television, first seen on the popular show "Bewitched" in 1965. In the early '90's she was picked by David Lynch to have a recurring role on his show "Twin Peaks". Lipton was married to record producer Quincy Jones for 16 years, and was the mother of actress Rashida Jones.
B. April 3, 1922 Cincinnati, Ohio
D. May 13, 2019 (aged 97) Carmel, Cal.
Cause: Pneumonia
In the 1950's and 1960's, there were few more popular than Doris Day. Beauty, a great singer, a pretty good actress...she was a triple threat for years and years. In those two decades alone, Doris Day released nearly 30 albums and starred in 36 films. She was only nominated for one Oscar, for her role in Pillow Talk, but the list of other awards is numerous; 11 Golden Globe noms (won 4 and was given a Lifetime Achievement award), 10 Laurel Awards (an American best-in-cinema award), was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammys as well as being inducted in the Grammy Hall Of Fame 3 times.
B. Dec. 15, 1933 Willoughby, Ohio
D. May 14, 2019 (aged 85) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Looking back, I count myself lucky to have seen the TV shows I did. It was such a thrill to tune into "The Carol Burnett Show" every week. Mostly, I waited to see what Tim Conway would be up to, and could he make the other actors laugh on stage. He was absolutely brilliant as a comedic actor. Just Google "Tim Conway dentist" and you'll become a fan, too. I always wanted to be Tim Conway. He appeared in scores of TV shows from 1962 and on and couple dozens films, including some voice work. A winner of 3 Primetime Emmy Awards, nominated for many more, he is a man that will not too soon be forgotten.
B. April 26, 1917 Republic Of China
D. May 16, 2019 (aged 102) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Natural Causes
Among those who like architecture, I.M. Pei was the "bees' knees". His career spanned over 60 years, creating some of the most recognizable structures of our time. The list is seemingly endless, stretching across the globe. The John F. Kennedy Library, the Louvre's pyramids, Hancock Tower in Boston, even some work in my native Toronto with CIBC Commerce Court. His creations will live on for a very long time.
B. Nov. 20, 1941 New Orleans, La.
D. June 6, 2019 (aged 77) New Orleans, La.
Cause: Heart Attack
He was born Malcolm John Rebennack Jr., but the music world knew him as Dr. John, a virtuoso on the piano and his blues/jazz/funk music that spanned over 60 years. "I was in the right place, but it musta been the wrong time", known worldwide for that song. He released scores of albums in his time, and was a regular player on the "Late Show With David Letterman", appearing at least 10 times from 1982 to 2008. A winner of 6 Grammy Awards and inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011.
B. Feb. 12, 1923 Florence, Italy
D. June 15, 2019 (aged 96) Rome, Italy
Cause: Natural Causes
He had a very long career as a film director, both in his native Italy and in America. What Zeffirelli was most known for was his interpretations of Shakespeare's most famous plays. The Taming Of The Shrew in 1967, Romeo And Juliet in 1968 (for which he earned an Academy Award nomination), Otello in 1986 (based on the opera that was based on "Othello"), and Hamlet in 1990 (starring a surprising apt Mel Gibson). He was also once nominated for a Razzie Award for helming Endless Love with a teenaged Brooke Shields.
B. Feb. 20, 1924 New York, N.Y.
D. June 17, 2019 (aged 95) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Stomach Cancer
She was an author, an artist, a fashion designer and a socialite, and she was Anderson Cooper's mother (which I did not know until the announcement of her death). Perfume and household appliances, then, in the '70's, blue jeans. She was a millionaire before she was born, and at 13, worth more than $4-million (equivalent to $70-million in today's money). There are five biographies available on her life, starting in 1979, and the subject of a book by Cooper published in 2016.
B. Oct. 15, 1924 Allentown, Pa.
D. July 2, 2019 (aged 94) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Parkinson's Disease
He ran two of the biggest car manufacturing companies in the world, Ford in the '60's and Chysler in the '80's. Iacocca presided over the making of the Ford Mustang, but he also headed the group that made the Pinto. He was married three times, and had a net worth of of over $150-million at the time of his death.
B. Jan. 20, 1929 Benton Harbor, Mich.
D. July 3, 2019 (aged 90) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Prostate Cancer
Once again, if you were a kid of the '70's, you heard Johnson's very famous line; "Verrrrry interesting". His character of "Wolfgang" on "Laugh-In" is where the familiar phrase was born. He played off of that for a good long time, but Johnson took his comic timing to other TV shows, especially game shows like "Hollywood Squares" or "Match Game" or "Tattletales".
B. June 27, 1930 Texarkana, Tex.
D. July 9, 2019 (aged 89) Dallas, Tex.
Cause: Leukemia
The little elf that could. I had never heard of Ross Perot until his unsuccessful run at the Presidency of the United States...twice! He was a multi-billionaire, running as an Independent, twice, and failed to win, twice. When his company went public in 1968, the shares went from $16 per share to $160 per share, making Perot a billionaire in just a few days. He actually got an astounding 19.7-million votes in 1992 when he lost to Bill Clinton, so he wasn't just a flash-in-the-pan. And watching the press conferences he gave were always a joy to behold!
B. Feb. 6, 1931 Temple, Tex.
D. July 9, 2019 (aged 88) Lakeville, Conn.
Cause: Unknown
He was born Elmore Rual Torn, Jr., but we all knew him as "Rip". He had a career that spanned over 60 years, but his success later in life is why most of know who he is. His work on "The Larry Sanders Show" was absolutely brilliant. From his success on that show, he was able to get hired for many big dollar movies; Men In Black, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and guest appearances on "Will And Grace" and "30 Rock". He was a student at the famous Actor's Studio in the late 1950's, working alongside Dennis Hopper. In fact, Torn was offered the role George in Easy Rider, but a bitter fight one evening between him and Hopper made the latter fire him before filming and was replaced by Jack Nicholson.
B. Jan. 23, 1944 Breukelen, Netherlands
D. July 19, 2019 (aged 75) Beetsterzwaag, Netherlands
Cause: Unspecified Illness
Who could forget Hauer in arguably his most sought role in Blade Runner?? He was fabulous. But he was much more than just Roy Batty. In fact, Hauer started his career way back in 1969 and, 50 years later, was still making movies. In his over one hundred appearances in TV and film, it was always difficult to watch anybody else when the camera was pointed in his direction.
B. Feb. 18, 1931 Lorain, Ohio
D. Aug. 5, 2019 (aged 88) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Pneumonia
A author of eleven novels, two plays and a few children's books, Morrison was a very celebrated woman. She won a National Book Critics Circle Award for her third novel "Song Of Solomon" in 1977. Then, eleven years later, she won the Pulitzer Prize For Fiction with her novel "Beloved". And of the many awards bestowed on her, the greatest recognition she received was the Presidential Medal Of Freedom in 2012. She even won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album For Children in 2008. You should Google the awards she won, it's a stupidly long list!
B. Feb. 23, 1940 New York, N.Y.
D. Aug. 16, 2019 (aged 79) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Lung Cancer
Being part of one of the most recognized family in the movie business, it may have been difficult to stand out. Well, Peter Fonda took care of that by co-writing and producing one of the most important films ever. Easy Rider helped to change the way movies were made, away from the big studios with as little money as possible. His more than 50 year career in entertainment earned him an Academy Award nomination in acting for 1997's Ulee's Gold, and an Emmy nomination for the TV special "The Passion Of Ayn Rand". He more than proved himself capable of carrying the "Fonda" name.
B. Aug. 22, 1939 Suffern, N.Y.
D. Aug. 30, 2019 (aged 80) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Cancer
She appeared in movies as far back as the late 1950's, but her career took off in 1970 when she was cast as Mary Tyler Moore's neighbour, Rhoda Morgenstern. She played that role for four years when the TV execs decided to give her her own show. Between 1974 and 1977, Harper acted on these two shows, and everyone loved her comedic ways. She was nominated for a bunch of Primetime Emmy Awards, winning a couple along the way. In 1986, she starred in another show, "Valerie", which did not get audiences' attention and was cancelled after just two seasons. Some other guest appearances and small movie roles followed, but she will always be "Rhoda".
B. March 21, 1949 Brooklyn, N.Y.
D. Sept. 13, 2019 (aged 70) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Esophageal Cancer
In the late '70's and early '80's, Eddie Money had many songs on the Top 40 lists. His songs "Take Me Home Tonight", "Baby Hold On" and, of course, "Two Tickets To Paradise" were on regular rotation on rock radio. He released 12 albums in total, including one in 2019. But his fame came, and stayed, because of those first few albums he released in the late '70's.
B. March 23, 1944 Baltimore, Maryland
D. Sept. 15, 2019 (aged 75) New York, N.Y.
Cause: Natural Causes
First Eddie Money, then a couple of days later another big rock singer dies. Ocasek was the lead singer of the group The Cars, a band that had many songs on the charts. The band's first album was a huge success, selling over six million copies. Ocasek was mostly responsible for their success, writing most of the songs and singing on most as well. The Cars released seven studio albums between 1978 and 2011 and their Greatest Hits album, released in 1985, sold several million as well. The Cars were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame just one year before Ocasek's death.
B. July 14, 1939 Fresno, Cal.
D. Sept. 21, 2019 (aged 80) Thousand Oaks, Cal.
Cause: Complications From COPD and Pneumonia
If you're not familiar with the movie House Of 1000 Corpses, you may not know who Sid Haig is, but he's been acting since the early 1960's. He made a pretty good career for himself as a bit player in dozens of movies and TV shows. His biggest acting job was appearing in 55 episodes of the show "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" in the late 1970's. But his star really shone when Rob Zombie hired him to play Captain Spaulding in four of his movies. The last Zombie movie, 3 From Hell, was released in 2019, just before Haig's death.
B. July 17, 1935 Bronx, N.Y.
D. Oct. 4, 2019 (aged 84) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Cancer
Actress, singer, model and the first black actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress for the play "No Strings". In 1968, she starred in the TV show "Julia" and was the first black TV character to lead a network series. She became a regular visitor to many talk shows of the 1970's, and then was cast as Dominique Deveraux and the hit TV series "Dynasty" in 1984. She married four times and spent a long time as Sidney Poitier's partner. A truly multi-talented woman who's beauty will not be forgotten.
B. Aug. 19, 1939 Lewisham, England
D. Oct. 6, 2019 (aged 80) Kent, England
Cause: Complications from COPD
Peter Edward Baker, nicknamed "Ginger" because of his red hair, was one of my favourite drummers in Rock. And, if you asked him, he was the greatest drummer in Rock, too. He started playing the drums at age 15, and, in 1966, co-founded the band Cream with Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton. The name of their band was to let all know that they were the "cream of the crop". Cream only lasted a couple of years, but their legacy as one of the best Rock groups ever still remains. In 2012, a documentary was made about Baker titled Beware Of Mr. Baker which chronicled his failing health and strange ways. Highly recommended film.
B. Jan. 13, 1931 Washington, D.C.
D. Oct. 6, 2019 (aged 88) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Complications From Epileptic Seizure
He may be the first person to be famous for being famous. He was a comedian in the early 1960's, but by the 1970's, he was just a funny man with wigs, a big moustache and pocketfuls of confetti. His antics were welcomed on such shows as "Hollywood Squares", "To Tell The Truth", "The Gong Show" and "Match Game". He appeared on multitudes of talk shows of the time, including "The Merv Griffin Show" and "The Tonight Show".
B. July 13, 1941 Rochester, N.Y.
D. Oct. 11, 2019 (aged 78) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Brain Cancer
Although I probably saw him on a TV show or as a bit player in some old movie, I fell in love with Robert Forster after watching Jackie Brown. He was the epitome of cool, and earned himself an Academy Award nomination for the role. His career really exploded after that role, both in TV and film. The last movie he made was the "Breaking Bad" followup El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which was released on the same day of his death.
B. June 29, 1930 New York, N.Y.
D. Oct. 26, 2019 (aged 89) Beverly Hills, Cal.
Cause: Unknown
He was the man who brought the world The Godfather, Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown. The producer extraordinaire, Evans helped to save Paramount Pictures when they were suffering through the 1960's. He backed a bunch of well-received films that audiences loved, thereby making huge loads of money. His autobiography "The Kid Stays In The Picture" was released in 1994 and turned into a documentary film in 2002, which I highly recommend.
B. Sept. 18, 1962 Calgary, Canada
D. Nov. 20, 2019 (aged 57) Vancouver, Canada
Cause: Alzheimer's Disease
I point out the sad news of John's death because I am Canadian, and, here in the Great White North, he was a bit of an icon. He fronted the band Spirit Of The West, known mostly for their fabulously fun song "Home For A Rest". Mann appeared in a documentary about dealing with his disease, with family, with bandmates, and with the Canadian fans that loved his music. It was called Spirit Unforgettable and you need to find it and watch it!
B. May 30, 1939 Passaic, N.J.
D. Nov. 20, 2019 (aged 80) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Cardiac Arrest
You may not know the name, but the face should ring some bells. Pollard was in loads of movies, usually as a bit part Bonnie And Clyde in 1967 or Scrooged in 1988 or maybe House Of 1000 Corpses in 2003. He had to have been in 100 movies and TV shows. And get this: he suggested the title of the Traffic song "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" which just happens to be one of my favourite songs! Neat.
B. June 1, 1940 New York, N.Y.
D. Dec. 8, 2019 (aged 79) Los Angeles, Cal.
Cause: Lung Cancer
Here's another actor whose name you may not know, but I'm sure you've seen him somewhere. An accomplished stage actor (nominated for 3 Tony Awards), he moved to movies and TV, appearing in a few Robert Altman films along the way. But most will remember him for playing Odo on TV's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". Auberjonois also leant his voice to dozens of animated shows and video games. Later in life he leant his voice to many Audio Books, as well.
B. June 20, 1933 Manhattan, N.Y.
D. Dec. 12, 2019 (aged 86) New Jersey
Cause: Natural Causes
I always like Danny Aiello, even though many of his roles were pretty much the same. He started acting in films in 1973. Bang The Drum Slowly opposite Robert DeNiro, a bit part in The Godfather Part II, and with DeNiro again 10 years later in Once Upon A Time In America. He got much acclaim in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing in 1989 receiving critic awards and nominated for an Academy Award. Oh, nd remember him in the Madonna video "Papa Don't Preach"? He was everywhere, and will be missed.
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